Databse error when debug mode off i.e. define('_PS_MODE_DEV_', false);

[pasuh]

when debug is set as define('_PS_MODE_DEV_', false); i get the error below, but when I change and set it as define('_PS_MODE_DEV_', true) all seems to work well, what could be the issue? V. 1.7.2.4

97.     public function connect()
98.     {
99.         try {
100.             $this->link = $this->_getPDO($this->server, $this->user, $this->password, $this->database, 5);
101.         } catch (PDOException $e) {
102.             throw new PrestaShopException('Link to database cannot be established:'.$e->getMessage());
103.         }
104. 
105.         // UTF-8 support
106.         if ($this->link->exec('SET NAMES \'utf8\'') === false) {
107.             throw new PrestaShopException('PrestaShop Fatal error: no utf-8 support. Please check your server configuration.');

 

Edited January 24, 2018 by pasuh
Adding more information (see edit history)